Newsroom Archive

Annual AMP and OMEA Conference a Success

Published on: 10/06/2015

COLUMBUS: More than 400 participants took part in the 2015 AMP/OMEA Conference held in Columbus Sept. 28 – Oct. 1. Putting Plans in Motion was the theme of this year’s conference and attendees had the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of discussions and informational sessions.

Following the Conference Opening Session with AMP President/CEO Marc Gerken, AMP and OMEA welcomed Sue Kelly, president and CEO of the American Public Power Association, with a presentation regarding some of the priority issues facing public power. During the conference, participants were able to attend panel discussions regarding the Clean Power Plan (111(d)), and the New Utility Business Model. There were also sessions covering topics such as indices and trends in the energy markets; new PJM capacity performance rules; Smart Grid; reliability tracking; risk management; power supply contracts; energy storage; as well as state and federal legislative updates. AMP and the OMEA would like to thank all of the outstanding speakers participating in this year’s conference.

In addition to the many sessions and events, AMP, OMEA, and the various project participants held membership meetings throughout the four-day annual conference.

AMP Board Elections
During the general membership meeting, elections were held to the AMP Board of Trustees for four expiring seats. The AMP member communities of Bryan, Montpelier, Oberlin and Orrville were re-elected by the membership to seats on the Board. Following the general membership meeting, the Board met to elect officers, with the following re-elections:

Chair – Steve Dupee, City of Oberlin

Vice Chair – Jeff Brediger, City of Orrville

Secretary – Pam Lucas, Village of Montpelier

Treasurer – Tracy Reimbold, City of Newton Falls

OMEA Board Elections
Elections were also held for expiring terms on the Ohio Municipal Electric Association Board of Directors. The OMEA member communities of Edgerton, Montpelier, Napoleon and Orrville were re-elected by the membership to new three-year terms. Dover, Ohio mayor Richard Homrighausen was re-elected to a 17th term as President of the OMEA Board of Directors, a position he has held since 1999. Additionally, Mayor Steve Yagelski, Village of Montpelier and Mayor Robin Laubaugh, City of Wadsworth were elected to the OMEA Board of Directors Executive Committee.

During the conference, OMEA recognized long-time St. Clairsville, Ohio Mayor Robert Vincenzo, who is retiring at the end of his current term in office. Mayor Vincenzo has been a strong advocate of public power at both the state and federal levels and has served on the OMEA Board of Directors Executive Committee for more than a decade, providing leadership to the efforts of the association.

AMP 7 Hats Award
Rex Katterheinrich, village administrator for the Village of New Knoxville, was named recipient of the prestigious 7 Hats Award during the Awards Banquet on Sept. 30. Initiated in 1966 to recognize utility managers who serve smaller communities, the AMP 7 Hats Award is given annually to an official in communities of less than 2,500 electric meters. Award winners show skill in seven areas: planning and design, administration, public relations, field supervision, accounting, personnel or employee direction, and community leadership.

Awards were also given to individuals and communities in the categories of environmental stewardship, finance, innovation, public power promotion, safety, and system improvement.

AMP President/CEO Marc Gerken (right) presents the AMP Seven Hats
Award to Rex Katterheinrich, village administrator for the Village of New
Knoxville, Ohio, during the 2015 AMP/OMEA Conference Awards Banquet.